Selegiline ameliorates depression-like behaviors in rodents and modulates hippocampal dopaminergic transmission and synaptic plasticity.

Selegiline, an irreversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase (MAO)-type B, is widely prescribed for Parkinson's disease and, at higher doses, for major and atypical depression, whereby it is non-selectively inhibitory to both MAO-A and MAO-B activities. MAO inhibitors have been considered to function as antidepressants through MAO-A inhibition. We have previously reported that selegiline exerts antidepressant-like effects in the mouse forced swim test (FST) via dopamine D1 receptor activation. Our objective was to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the antidepressant-like effects of selegiline. We also tested another propargylamine MAO-B inhibitor, rasagiline. Triple subcutaneous injection (at 24, 5, and 1 h prior to behavioral testing) with selegiline (10 mg/kg/injection), but not rasagiline (1, 3, or 10 mg/kg/injection), reduced the immobility time in the mouse FST and rat tail suspension test. In the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of mice subjected to the FST, selegiline and rasagiline completely inhibited MAO-B activities. However, selegiline suppressed MAO-A activities and monoamine turnover rates at a lesser degree than rasagiline at the same doses, indicating that the antidepressant-like effects of selegiline are independent of MAO-A inhibition. Moreover, selegiline, but not rasagiline, increased the hippocampal dopamine content. A single subcutaneous administration of 10 mg/kg selegiline, but not of rasagiline, significantly prevented hippocampal CA1 long-term potentiation impairment, induced by low-frequency stimulation prior to high-frequency stimulation in rats. These results suggest that the antidepressant-like effects of selegiline are attributable to enhancement of dopaminergic transmission and prevention of the impairment of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus.

Selegiline increases on time without exacerbation of dyskinesia in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats displaying l-Dopa-induced wearing-off and abnormal involuntary movements.

3,4-Dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine (l-Dopa) remains the most effective drug for treating the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, its long-term use is limited due to motor complications such as wearing-off and dyskinesia. A clinical study in PD patients with motor complications has demonstrated that selegiline, a monoamine oxidase type B inhibitor, is effective in reducing off time without worsening dyskinesia, although another study has shown worsening dyskinesia. Here, using unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats showing degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons and l-Dopa-induced motor complications, we determined the efficacy of selegiline in controlling l-Dopa-induced motor fluctuations and exacerbated dyskinesia. Repeated administration of l-Dopa/benserazide (25/6.25 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, twice daily for 22 days) progressively shortened rotational response duration (on time) and augmented peak rotation in lesioned rats. Single subcutaneous injection of selegiline (10 mg/kg) extended l-Dopa-induced shortened on time without augmenting peak rotation. Furthermore, l-Dopa/benserazide (25/6.25 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, once daily for 7 days) progressively increased abnormal involuntary movements (l-Dopa-induced dyskinesia, LID) and peak rotation. Single subcutaneous injection of selegiline (10 mg/kg) did not exacerbate LID or alter mRNA expression of prodynorphin (PDy) and activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc), both mRNAs associated with LID in the lesioned striatum. Despite undetectable plasma concentrations of selegiline and its metabolites at 24 h post-administration, these on time and LID effects did not decrease, suggesting involvement of irreversible mechanisms. Altogether, these results indicate that selegiline is effective in increasing on time without worsening dyskinesia.

Sgk1 regulates desmoglein 1 expression levels in oligodendrocytes in the mouse corpus callosum after chronic stress exposure.

Major depression, one of the most prevalent mental illnesses, is thought to be a multifactorial disease related to both genetic and environmental factors. However, the genes responsible for and the pathogenesis of major depression at the molecular level remain unclear. Recently, we reported that stressed mice with elevated plasma corticosterone levels show upregulation and activation of serum glucocorticoid-regulated kinase (Sgk1) in oligodendrocytes. Active Sgk1 causes phosphorylation of N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (Ndrg1), and phospho-Ndrg1 increases the expression of N-cadherin, α-catenin, and ß-catenin in oligodendrocytes. This activation of the Sgk1 cascade results in morphological changes in the oligodendrocytes of nerve fiber bundles, such as those present in the corpus callosum. However, little is known about the molecular functions of the traditional and/or desmosomal cadherin superfamily in oligodendrocytes. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to elucidate the functions of the desmosomal cadherin superfamily in oligodendrocytes. Desmoglein (Dsg) 1, Dsg2, and desmocollin 1 (Dsc1) were found to be expressed in the corpus callosum of mouse brain, and the expression of a subtype of Dsg1, Dsg1c, was upregulated in oligodendrocytes after chronic stress exposure. Furthermore, Dsg1 proteins were localized around the plasma membrane regions of oligodendrocytes. A study in primary oligodendrocyte cultures also revealed that chronic upregulation of Sgk1 by dexamethasone administration is involved in upregulation of Dsg1c mRNA. These results may indicate that chronic stress induced Sgk1 activation in oligodendrocytes, which increases Dsg1 expression near the plasma membrane. Thus, Dsg1 upregulation may be implicated in the molecular mechanisms underlying the morphological changes in oligodendrocytes in response to chronic stress exposure.

XLMR protein related to neurite extension (Xpn/KIAA2022) regulates cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion and migration.

X-linked mental retardation (XLMR) is a common cause of moderate to severe intellectual disability in males. XLMR protein related to neurite extension (Xpn, also known as KIAA2022) has been implicated as a gene responsible for XLMR in humans. Although Xpn is highly expressed in the developing brain and is involved in neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells and neurons, little is known about the functional role of Xpn. Here, we show that Xpn regulates cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion and migration in PC12 cells. Xpn knockdown enhanced cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion mediated by N-cadherin and ß1-integrin, respectively. N-Cadherin and ß1-integrin expression at the mRNA and protein levels was significantly increased in Xpn knockdown PC12 cells. Furthermore, overexpressed Xpn protein was strongly expressed in the nuclei of PC12 and 293T cells. Finally, depletion of Xpn perturbed cellular migration by enhancing N-cadherin and ß1-integrin expression in a PC12 cell wound healing assay. We conclude that Xpn regulates cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion and cellular migration by regulating the expression of adhesion molecules.

Plasma corticosterone activates SGK1 and induces morphological changes in oligodendrocytes in corpus callosum.

Repeated stressful events are known to be associated with onset of depression. Further, stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) system by elevating plasma cortisol levels. However, little is known about the related downstream molecular pathway. In this study, by using repeated water-immersion and restraint stress (WIRS) as a stressor for mice, we attempted to elucidate the molecular pathway induced by elevated plasma corticosterone levels. We observed the following effects both, in vivo and in vitro: (1) repeated exposure to WIRS activates the 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase (PDK1)-serum glucocorticoid regulated kinase (SGK1)-N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1)-adhesion molecule (i.e., N-cadherin, α-catenin, and ß-catenin) stabilization pathway via an increase in plasma corticosterone levels; (2) the activation of this signaling pathway induces morphological changes in oligodendrocytes; and (3) after recovery from chronic stress, the abnormal arborization of oligodendrocytes and depression-like symptoms return to the control levels. Our data strongly suggest that these abnornalities of oligodendrocytes are possibly related to depression-like symptoms.